Venezuela is experiencing heightened tensions with the United States amid accusations and counter-accusations between the two governments. U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau responded to accusations from Venezuelan Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello, asserting that the Venezuelan government has harassed and declared war on the Venezuelan people. The Venezuelan government, led by President Nicolás Maduro, condemned recent U.S. threats and actions, including an increased U.S. bounty for information leading to Maduro's capture, which Venezuelan institutions such as the Fiscal General, Tarek William Saab, and the Council Moral Republicano labeled as a "grotesque and infamous maneuver." Maduro dismissed the U.S. actions as "extravagant and bizarre threats" and announced the deployment of 4.5 million militiamen in response. He also emphasized that Venezuela is free of coca leaf plantations, marijuana, cocaine laboratories, and drug trafficking mafias, particularly highlighting that the Catatumbo region in Zulia state is free of illicit drug activities. Colombian President Gustavo Petro confirmed the arrival of Venezuelan dissident lawyer María Alejandra Díaz in Bogotá after over seven months under diplomatic protection in the Colombian embassy in Caracas. Petro also accused Colombian guerrilla groups FARC and ELN of operating in Venezuela to traffic large quantities of cocaine and bribing public officials. Maduro expressed solidarity with Bolivia during its bicentennial and reiterated Venezuela's commitment to peace, unity, and prosperity. The Venezuelan government also rejected U.S. allegations linking Maduro to criminal networks, calling such claims hypocritical and politically motivated. Meanwhile, opposition voices and international critics continue to denounce Maduro's regime, with calls for urgent action to liberate Venezuela.